Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-21
The Concert.

The first concert of the Mcneil Club was
given last night at the New Metropolitan
Theater to large and brilliant audience.
The announcement of the concert had ex-
cited high expectations, which placed the
club il a rather unenviable position. 1t is
always preferable to agreeably surprise an
audience than to start in to realize its lofty
expectations. There were those who were
anticipating greater volume of tone and
more difficult performance, notwithstand
ing the fact that the voices were limited to
thirty seven, and that male voices never
give that variety of effect which fol-
lows vocal effort with both sexes
represented. Judged by its musical quality,
rather than by volume of tone, the concert
was pronounced success, and must give
the club the warmest encouragement. In
deed, it could not ask for a better beginning
than it has had. The response made to its
appeal by the community is more fiattering
and sincere than any that can be recalled
as made to similar musical organizations.
The chorus was fully as strong as the de-
mands of the scores used, and these, as will
be seen by the programme, were selected
with care and from composers of high
character. The combination of forces gave
a well balanced body of singers, whose
tone was round and full, aud
whose work was careful and precise.
The execution of the selections by the
chorus was clean and smooth, and the
melodious character of the parts was ex-
ceilentlv preserved. The Interpretation of
the themes was good. They were in the
main simple and elegant in style, without
much variety Of shading it is true, or any
very strong contrasts, but spirited, express
sive and warm in color. Wisely no effort
was made to express intense feeling or
deep passion, but there was no timidity in
interpreting, and the entrances by the parts
were strong, and the singing showed no
imperfect acquaintance with the meaning
of the authors. With increased familiarity
with each other, and the continued severe
practice mapped out, there will come still
greater freedom of action and vividness
and richness of color. As it was, for a
newly marshaled body, the vocal result was
fine and full of promise for work oil more
imaginative and vocally dramatic char
acter The club sang Forsaken, d"
by Kischal; The Chafer and the
Flower" a capital bit of humor by
Welt; Loves Greeting" by Karl
Appel, and the chorus gem of the
evening, revealing more of the capacity of
the club and what is in store in the future
for the community from it, than anything
they sang Mr.. Kinross carried the bari
tone solo in this number in fine taste
Comes Martial Hymn spirited num-
Der; charming Serenade," by Lachner,
and Macy's writing of Aud Lang Syne,"
in which marked genuine feeling was man
| ifest. Mr.. kinrosS, the director, sang the
I baritone song The Silver Cup" by Ad-
ans. He has a strong, resonant voice,
enunciates with great Gistinctness, and has
exceptional vigor and vitality of style, and
is without particle of the bane ID many
male singers-affectation For an encore
he sang THE Wolf" Miss Mary Bar
nard, of San Francisco, mezzo-soprano,
won the audience instantly as she be-
gan Noble Signor from the Hugue-
winning voice and fine style, and is ad-
| mirably suited to the concert stage, She
sang also Nessler's God Guard Thee" and
for encores Robin Adair and Say
| Good By and Co. The impression she
created was most favorable. Handsome
! floral tributes were presented to her. Mis-;
Alice Dyer richly deserved the applause
she received for her contralto songs, Mar,
guerites Three Bouquets" by Bruya, ant
"a Summer Night" by A. Goring-Thomas
For encores she sang 20 Loving Hearts
and = Far Away" She has a flexible anC
sympathetic, almost dramatic, voice; tru'
gence and skill The lady received hand
some floral offerings. Miss Amelia Bohl
the accompanist of the evening, use(
on one side of the stage CHECKER
ing grand piano, and on tn
the Other Mathushek upright grand. Sh
filled the second number with plan
solo, l. Africaine-Fantasie de Concert,
by Bendel, playing with taste and delicac
an exacting composition. She, too, re
ceived floral piece of handsome charaC
ter. The programmes were in book form
neatly printed, and gave the words of a
the songs of the regular numbers and th
names of the chorus singers. 1t was a
agreeable innovation, and due to the ibel
atty of private enterprise.